S.E.C. Real Estate Observer

Don’t you think it’s sad that lots of folks just sit around hoping that their dreams will come true? I am equally amazed that most people do absolutely nothing in pursuit of their dreams for fear that their dreams may not come true. Even more just give up and move on to another dream, leaving [...]

Most regular real estate brokerages use multiple systems to find clients:

A sign on prominent office and on listed properties
Ads in media
Direct mail
House calls
Seminars conducted for the public
Personal contacts thru social clubs
Brochures distributed
Etc.

My personal preference has always been “Find a need and fill it,” (found printed on pink dump trucks by Henry J. Kaiser in the [...]

There is no getting around it. Generally broker-owned presentations are tough to moderate and listen to at best. Let’s examine the reasons for this so that broker-owned presenters are allowed to be the best they can possibly be.
One of the basic principles of real estate counseling is to be objective. Whether the client realizes it [...]

I can remember coming home from school and my Mother would ask, “Did you have a good day at school?” and shortly thereafter she would ask, “Do we need to plan for tomorrow?” That was her way of asking if I had any homework assignments. From those early days and throughout my life, everyone has [...]

An S.E.C. guest requested counsel with regard to an aging couple/prospective client, who had a gaggle of properties in a remote town. He wanted help on valuing so as to take a salable listing - a standard MLS broker’s approach.
He really liked the couple, and was stymied on how to proceed and was newly open [...]

Reprinted with permission from Veronica C. Law, Esq. Ms. Law is an attorney with Decker, Jones, McMackin, McClane, Hall & Bates, P.C., in downtown Fort Worth, Texas. Ms. Law represents sellers, buyers, lenders, landlords and tenants in all types of commercial real estate transactions. Ms. Law can be reached at 817-336-2400 or by email to: [...]

Editor’s Note: The S.E.C. prides itself on being creative within the confines of the real estate world and we, as S.E.C. members, foster the spirit of real estate ownership within our family, friends and peers. That said, I would like to introduce the son of one of our members who, as part of a school [...]

Most exchange brokers exclaim loudly that their colleagues haven’t properly “COUNSELED” their client before bringing their package to the market place. When I used to teach brokers how to exchange, I would explain that commissions are “pooled and shared equally” as a norm. There usually was then an extended conversation about one side doing all [...]

Of the many formulas for putting together transactions, the Running Exchange is one of the most powerful, yet least used tools in the bag of the exchangor. The Running Exchange is a catalyst method to begin transactions, and may be utilized by an experienced moderator at your local marketing sessions. It may also be utilized [...]

I seem to have been directly in the path of “TIC” real estate offerings all year long. Even though TIC interests in real estate have been around for years, interest has increased dramatically since 2002, when the IRS provided guidance. A revenue procedure that indicated that a taxpayer can use a TIC investment, if properly [...]